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Established in 1999, this award honors Mrs. Wiesner’s legacy at MIT. The award is presented to a member or friend of the MIT community for conspicuously effective service that reflects Mrs. Wiesner’s concerns for enhancing life at the Institute and in the world at large.

If you have any questions about the Laya Wiesner Community Award please contact via email.

Past Winners

Kimberly Benard, Assistant Director, Global Education and Career Development Center

Laya Wainger Wiesner, wife of MIT’s President Jerome Wiesner, served as the Institute’s First Lady from 1971 to 1980. Mrs. Wiesner earned a B.S. in mathematics at the University of Michigan in 1940 and married in the same year. During the Wiesner presidency, Mrs. Wiesner was active in many Institute projects, including the MIT Women’s League, the MIT Advisory Committee on Women and Work, and the Advisory Board of MIT’s Child Development Center. She also worked to increase the number of women on the faculty. Beyond MIT, she helped found and support the Metropolitan Council on Education, was a leader of the Massachusetts League of Women Voters, and an active supporter of their efforts to aid the civil rights movement in the South.

The Stewart Awards are presented in memory of William L. Stewart, Jr., an alumnus and member of the Corporation who demonstrated deep interest in student life at MIT. The Stewart Awards recognize outstanding contributions by an individual student or student organization to extracurricular activities and events during the preceding year.

If you have any questions about the William L. Stewart, Jr. Award please contact via email.

William Lyman Stewart, Jr. first came to MIT as an undergraduate in 1919. He earned an S.B. in business and engineering administration in 1923. After graduation, he joined the Union Oil Company of California, to which he devoted his energies throughout his entire career. Long active in MIT affairs, he served as an alumni term member of the MIT Corporation from 1952 to 1956, and as a life member until his death. As a member of the Corporation, Mr. Stewart served on a number of standing and visiting committees including development, naval architecture, industrial management, humanities, mathematics, sponsored research, and student affairs.

The Laya W. Wiesner Award honors Mrs. Wiesner’s contributions to women’s activities at the Institute. It was established in 1980 by the MIT Women’s League. The award is presented to the undergraduate woman student who has most enhanced MIT community life.

If you have any questions about the Laya W. Wiesner Award please contact via email.

Past Winners

2017

Teresa de Figueiredo ’17

2016

Bettina Arkhurst ‘18

2015

Shivangi Goel ‘17

2014

Rachel H. Keeler

2013

Karine Yuki '13

2012

Vidya Eswaran '12

Laya Wainger Wiesner, wife of MIT’s President Jerome Wiesner, served as the Institute’s First Lady from 1971 to 1980. Mrs. Wiesner earned a B.S. in mathematics at the University of Michigan in 1940 and married in the same year. During the Wiesner presidency, Mrs. Wiesner was active in many Institute projects, including the MIT Women’s League, the MIT Advisory Committee on Women and Work, and the Advisory Board of MIT’s Child Development Center. She also worked to increase the number of women on the faculty. Beyond MIT, she helped found and support the Metropolitan Council on Education, was a leader of the Massachusetts League of Women Voters, and an active supporter of their efforts to aid the civil rights movement in the South.

The Goodwin Medal is presented to a graduate student whose performance of teaching duties is “conspicuously effective over and above ordinary excellence.” The award will be presented to a graduate student teacher who has established a place of distinction in teaching in the opinion of his or her colleagues, students, and faculty. The nominee should be a current graduate student who is primarily at MIT (if involved in a joint program with another university). Co-teachers may be nominated jointly, but the specific contributions of each individual must be detailed. This award was established in memory of Henry Manley Goodwin, the first Dean of the Graduate School of MIT.

Harry Manley Goodwin (1870–1949) first came to MIT in 1886, earning an S.B. in 1890. Professor Goodwin served at MIT for more than 50 years. He began as an assistant in physics in 1890 and advanced to professor in 1906, teaching physics and electrochemistry. In 1906, he established and headed the first undergraduate course in the U.S. leading to a degree in electrochemistry. He also served as director of the Research Laboratory of Electrochemistry (1930–1933); secretary of MIT’s Society of Arts (1922–1940); and chairman of the faculty, (1939–1940). He was the first dean of graduate students (1926-1932), and dean of the newly established graduate school from 1932 until his retirement in 1940. He retired with the title professor emeritus and was appointed honorary dean of the graduate school.